Well this past weekend was the World Championships in Val di Sole Italy. It was Earlier in the year than normal as the Olympic games are later on in the year and some of the disciplines are in the Olympics.

The track was super hard and technical all the way down and very hard on the bikes and the riders.Chris Kovarik and Julien Camellini both competed for their respective countries and they both placed pretty well 12th for Chris and 8th for Julien.

Chris struggled a bit on his race run not able to get into a good flow and said he was on his brakes too much. He was still suffering a bit from his big crash the week before in Willingen but never moans too much and just gets on with what he has to do.

Julien had a pretty solid run and gave it everything and had a good first split time but made a mistake further down but still 8th in the World for the day is pretty good on a track that didn’t suit the pair of them as much as some others. All the bikes were getting a huge beating every run but the Intense M6s held up great with a lot of work from Dave Garland our top mechanic and even Cord came to help out on his week end off.

Big congratulations to Gee Atherton who rode so fast all week to take Great Britains first ever DH senior Gold medal and hard luck to the amazing Steve Peat who took the silver again at 34 years old. Steve is an amazing athlete to still be at the top of the sport after so many years. So close to winning the Gold at last but the worlds just don’t seem to be kind to him. I think everyone there was so pleased for Gee but gutted that Steve didn’t get that elusive gold medal he should of won on many occasions throughout his career. Rachael Atherton also won the womans race by a massive margin to 2 World Championship gold medals in one family. Pretty amazing.

Also it was so good to see Josh Bryceland take gold in the Junior mens race with a big margin also. He rode so smooth and fast on the very hard track. He made it look easy on the big screen hitting all his lines perfectly and making no mistakes. Josh’s time would have put him 10th in the senior mens race!

Then there was Sam Hill. As we watched him on the big screen he was going so fast on that track it didn’t seem real! He was hitting sections so fast and riding on the limit it was amazing to see how fast it is possible to ride. It looked like he was going to have a huge crash at any point on the track as he seemed to be just riding too fast but he held it all together until the high speed section at the end and just lost the front wheel on the inside line he took and had a big crash but got up had to start on the flat section with no speed and still managed to finish in the Bronze position. It was great to see what is possible on such a difficult course and gives everyone some motivation for the upcoming World Cups.

This week we are back at the chalet in St. Jean D’aulps doing some riding and filming on some of the great tracks in the woods next to the Pleney. Look out for some footage on our site www.crcintense.com.

Check out a few pics from the last couple of weeks and you can have a look on our website for more pic.

Cheers: Nigel Page

ERGON GP1 GRIPS

by Robb Sutton from Mountain Biking by 198
http://www.mtbtrailreview.com

From Ergon-bike.com

The GP1 series of grips offer maximum comfort and the best possible pressure distribution. They are specially cut for a small to middle sized hand (Size S: 6.5 / 8.5 - particularly good for female hands), as well as for middle to larger sized hands (Size L: 8.5 – 10.5). They feature a forged aluminum clamp for fast and secure installation. The support platform is individually incrementally adjustable for the correct hand angle by simply turning the grip.

Test Subjects - Pictured Below

Size Tested: Small 6.5/8.5

Bikes Tested On: Moots Mooto-X 29er Hard Tail and Ibis Mojo 140mm Full Suspension

Installation

Installation is as easy as any other lock-on, slide on the grip and tighten the bolt. The only issue that takes any time is figuring out the most comfortable angle for your riding and making sure that both grips are even. With normal grips, this is not an issue because they are circular.

Weight

These grips are heavy due to the extra material (170g per pair according to JensonUSA on the smalls and over 200g for the larges). If you are a weight weenie looking to shed those precious grams, these are probably not the grips for you. I have heard from endurance racers that they find the added benefits during longer riding a big enough trade off for the weight.

Price

Averaging around 35.00 per pair (25.00 if you look hard), these are some of the most expensive grips you can put on a bike from a mainstream retailer.

First Impressions

At first, it really took some time to get used to the Ergon GP1’s. For such a long time, riders have gotten used to regular grips for all of their riding needs. The Ergon’s are much different than anything else on the market. Finding that “sweet spot” on the bikes was a little bit more difficult than I had planned on, but once they were set…they felt great.

My hands are relatively large and I found even the smalls to be a little big. I like to be able to grip all the way around the bars with my index and middle finger in technical riding situations. The large sized grips really hindered my ability to do this. So for me, the “better for women” size worked out the best. I have found this to be true for almost all of the men with any experience with Ergon’s. (For reference: My hands have a 9” spread)

On The Bike

According to Ergon, these grips are supposed to prevent soreness and numbness in the hands and fingers by providing optimal pressure distribution on the palm. I do not have chronic problems in these areas but I did find the grips to be very comfortable on long climbs. I was able to rest my upper body weight on the bulk of the grips and this helped in loosening my grip on the bars. I found that my hands were not as tired at the end of long climbs as compared to regular grips.

On the descents, I have two opinions. On the Moots Mooto-X 29er, the grips felt great when gravity takes over. I still had complete control over the front end and I felt more stable on the bars. When I switched the the Mojo, things changed a little bit. In more downhill/freeride situations, I really missed being able to grip all the way around the bars in multiple positions. This left me feeling uneasy on drops and jumps that I normally feel at home on.

One other critique…The one bolt clamping mechanism makes installation a breeze, but I did find that the bolt can loosen easily causing the grips to move on the bar. A simple tightening of the bolt with the multi-tool rectified the issue quickly, so it was more of a little annoyance than a deal breaker.

Durability

Even through all of the testing, the grips still look brand new (with some added dirt). This makes me believe that the grips are going to last a pretty long time. Some other brands soft compounds tend to wear out pretty quickly, but the Ergon’s look like they are going to be around for a long time. This helps with the price of the grips if you know you aren’t going to have to buy another set for a long time.

Conclusions

I can see exactly why endurance racers love these grips. They work out great on the long haul. It is my opinion that these grips are best suited for rigids, hard tails and short travel full suspension bikes. They will relieve your hands in long mileage rides and help with numbness and soreness in the palm area. If you are looking for a set of grips that are going to be comfortable over long rides and you aren’t worried about weight, look no farther than the GP1’s. I would try out a set before you purchase to make sure you are ok with the size, but it is my guess that the smalls are going to work for most riders.

If you are an all mountain/freeride/downhill rider, you are probably going to want to stick with a conventional grip. A personal favorite of mine is the Oury lock-ons, but Ergon also has a new GE1 that may work out better for more aggressive, technical riding situations.

Ergon is also the only grip company, that I can think of, that is truly involved with their riders. There have been multiple test sessions held at our local trail heads by Ergon employees. They install the grips on your bike for testing and answer questions as you go along. As the bike industry becomes more competitive, this is a huge plus in my book. I really like “hands on” manufacturers.

by Robb Sutton from Mountain Biking by 198
http://www.mtbtrailreview.com

The legend that was the Canada Cup DH course in 1999 is no longer, alas a new creation has been formed!!!! A hardworking trail crew has created a NEW COURSE for Horseshoe that will be like nothing else seen on the O-Cup seen, steep chutes, off camber, highspeed wide wood sections, multiple lines and the Snake pit. This is a course reminiscent of the mid section parts of bigger Canada Cups.I want to thank Shane, Myles, Ryan, Greg, Hugh and Deanordan for their awesome slave labour.This event is NOT to be missed!Don’t forget to pre-register at:
www.ontariocycling.org
(1day licences are $10 online, $20 at the event)
Pre-reg closes Noon, Friday June 27th

We can’t thank enough our amazing support staff, Lee Allen, Kris Somers (MC/DJ), Allan Hawley and his timing staff, Kelso Pro Patrol and staff (Barb and Simon) and ofcourse the amazing volunteers and sponsors:
Cycle-Solutions.com Bike Store, Commencal Bikes, Norco Performance Bikes , Kenda Tires, Titec Components, Ontario Cycling Association, Dropmachine.com, Privateer Racing, To Wheels, Industry Bike park, Harverys, YODO bike, E-13, Atomlab, FUNN, Gamut, Trident, Azonic and CIBC.

For all results and Ontario Cup DH/4X racing info go to
www.sirbikealotracing.com

source: Peter Appleton, Sirbikealot Racing.

Kamloops, B.C. – (June 20, 2008) – The Intermontane Challenge, one of the world’s most unique and lucrative mountain bike races, has announced Thompson Rivers University (TRU) will be the core of its food and accommodation program for the 2009 race. The race package will set a new standard in quality, comfort and value in mountain bike racing.

The inaugural 450-kilometre race takes place in Kamloops July 27-31, 2009 and is the only race of its size in the world to feature a single-track, clover leaf design. The distinctive design allows racers to tackle a different part of the course each day while establishing a home base in Kamloops every night. Because of this, TRU has made its apartment-style condo-like residences available for competitors. In addition, the university’s culinary department will be lending their expertise to provide food for racers.

“We were hearing from racers that they are looking for the comforts of home, including better and more accessible food and accommodations,” explains Kelly Servinski, director of marketing for the Intermontane Challenge. “Having a central location for both of these elements means racers will have more time to chill out in the evenings and get ready for their next day of competitive racing.”

Most other competitive races have athletes camping at various points along the route. Servinski says race organizers wanted the Intermontane Challenge to stand out by having everything a competitor would need right on site and by providing a first class level of service.

“The response from the mountain bike stage racing community has been overwhelming,” says Servinski. “People are stoked about our accommodations, location, prize purse and, of course, the amazing single track design.”

The cross-country stage race spanning five days features a purse of $60,000 – three times as
much prize money as any race in North America. Adopting the slogan, “200 million years in the making…5 days to conquer,” the Challenge is open to 300 competitors from all over the world. It will have categories for men and women and will include solo and two-rider teams.

Online registration for the Intermontane Challenge starts on September 20, 2008 for the 2009 inaugural event. A weekend preview of parts of the course will be taking place this year on September 6.

For more information: www.intermontanechallenge.com and click on “Register” to see all the details of our Packages and Prices or contact:

Chuck Brennan
Event Coordinator
1-877-377-8665
chuck (at) intermontanechallenge (dot) com

source: Kelly Servinski

- Canada-Based Performance Eyewear Company Supports Popular Multi-Day Mountain Bike Race From Victoria To Whistler -

NORTH VANCOUVER, Canada (June 24, 2008) – Ryders Eyewear, the premiere supplier of affordable, quality performance and lifestyle eyewear, will sponsor the world-class BC Bike Race which runs from June 28-July 4. In its second year, the seven-day, multi-stage mountain bike race from Victoria to Whistler, British Columbia, is touted as one of the most challenging races of its kind. It’s the type of event that mirrors Ryders Eyewear’s motto of “Ride for Real.”

“We are happy to sponsor this event since it reflects Ryders motto “Ride for Real,” says marketing coordinator Jenya Draganov. “The Ryders brand appeals to athletes dedicated to their sport, and since this event is all about that we feel the exposure we gain from attending is vital.”

As a Gold Sponsor, Ryders Eyewear we will be providing its sunglasses to all the race participants and handing out lanyards for race IDs. Ryders Eyewear representatives will also be present at the event, along with event banners and an exhibition tent. Staying true to their motto, Ryders Eyewear CEO Brent Martin will be racing in this year’s event representing the Ryders team.

The BC Bike Race is much more than the challenge of the ride…it’s about everything experienced along the way. From spectacular scenery, fascinating culture and interesting people, the race is as much a social gathering as competitive event. The stages of the race wind through nine beautiful west coast communities, each showcasing unique qualities and elements that make British Columbia a world-class destination for athletes and adventurers.

For more information about the BC Bike Race and to follow participant’s progress check www.bcbikerace.com.

For more about Ryders Eyewear and their new Adrenaline and Chill Collections check www.ryderseyewear.com.

About Ryders Eyewear:
Ryders Eyewear, based in adrenaline sport mecca North Vancouver, British Columbia, puts their backyard to good use testing the endurance and performance attributes of their eyewear products. Ryders is the leader in the price point eyewear category, providing quality performance eyewear at an amazing value in the biking, wintersports, motorsports and lifestyle categories. For more information on Ryders Eyewear, visit www.ryderseyewear.com or contact Keith Cozzens at Base Camp Communications

source: Keith Cozzens

Over $25,000 in cash and prizes up for grabs in the region’s biggest race series

Snowshoe, W.Va. - Snowshoe Mountain welcomes some of the country’s best mountain bikers this weekend as the Powerade Race Series kicks off June 27-29 at the Pocahontas County resort. For three weekends this summer, the trails of Snowshoe Mountain will be invaded as riders compete for over $25,000 in cash and prizes. This season the series will offer its largest ever single-race payout to the top men’s elite rider in the downhill category. Each weekend will conclude with its own awards ceremony, while racers will concurrently accumulate points over the series, with top point-earners receiving an additional prize at the series’ conclusion.

The series, which will run on a different course each weekend, kicks off June 27-29, with legs two and three running on July 25-27 and August 29-September 1, respectively. On Saturdays, riders will compete in dual slalom competition on Snowshoe’s recently completed new slalom course, with downhill races held on Sundays. Both events are spectator-friendly and the weekend will include a Cookout/Happy Hour event Friday and Saturday evenings at the Junction Restaurant, a movie under the stars in the Village Friday and Saturday, and the post-race cookout at Arbuckle’s Cabin on Sunday.

Racers will compete in intro (first year racers), weekend warrior (average, experienced racer with limited training), amateur (men only, at least one year of racing experience, higher-level competition) and elite classes (competitive, experienced racer). In non-elite classes competitors will run in U-17, 18-29, 30-39 and 40+ age groups. Racing for women in the intro and weekend warrior classes is free of charge (does not include trail pass). Registration for all other racers is $29 without a trail pass, $54 for entrance with a two-day trail pass for Saturday and Sunday and $24 for dual slalom race entry (does not include Trail Pass). Registration begins on Friday afternoon.

The top 10 male elite finishers in the Powerade series will walk away with a cash prize, with first place finishers earning $1000 each weekend. The top three female elite racers will also earn a cash prize, with the winner taking home $500. Amateur, weekend warrior and intro top three finishers will be awarded bike component prizes. The Powerade purse is the largest mountain bike series payout on the east coast, and riders will earn their prizes tackling technically challenging terrain and unique courses during each leg of the series.

For a complete schedule of the weekend’s events, please visit www.snowshoemtn.com/

For more information on all of Snowshoe’s mountain biking adventures, check out http://ride.snowshoemtn.com.

Gee Atherton and Rachel Atherton made cycling history when the brother sister team took both of the DH world championships crowns in Val di Sole, Italy. This was a true DH racing course, all the World’s best had nothing but accolades for the tracks technical sections, wide open speed and multiple lines.

“It’s hard for me to say where was critical on the run – where I won. It was a track you had to be on the gas all the way down,” said Atherton. “My run wasn’t perfect, and I made mistakes, but obviously it was a track where you could afford to make a few. It paid to be consistent.”

Peat came to within just 2.62 seconds of the title that he has sat 2nd to 4 times. But always a sportsman he was right there to congratulate his compatriot.

Reigning world champion Sam Hill had 6 seconds on Peaty with less than 400m to go when his front wheel washed in a flat high speed turn. Sam would have to settle for 3rd.

Rachel obliterated her field by 12 seconds, her time would have put her around 60th in the mens race!! Sabrina Jonnier took 2nd, Emmeline Ragot took 3rd.

Commencal and the Athertons could not be happier, their new DH bikes gave them the edge they needed (which the Athertons have been riding all season) and for 2009 the Supreme DH is sure to be a hit with those world cup rings around them.

Source: Peter Appleton

source: The Kona Bicycle Co

CALLING ALL VOLUNTEERS FOR KOKANEE CRANKWORX 2008 Accommodation Packages Offer Great Overnight Deals During Festival

WHISTLER, BC, June 21, 2008 - Kokanee Crankworx organizers are looking for volunteers to play an important role at mountain biking’s biggest annual festival August 9-17, 2008. Kokanee Crankworx has 300 volunteer spots to cover 900 shifts during the nine days of the event.

Kokanee Crankworx has been receiving applications from volunteers from all over the world including Brazil, Panama, and New Zealand as well as all across Canada. There are a variety of jobs available to Kokanee Crankworx volunteers, from course set-up to competitor relations.

“Volunteering at Kokanee Crankworx is a great way to meet new people and be a part of this world class festival. It’s pretty cool knowing that you helped in executing an event that is so popular for fans and participant alike,” says Jenn McElroy, Kokanee Crankworx Logistics Coordinator. “Volunteer participation is an integral part of Kokanee Crankworx and it is their effort that helps make this event a success.”

New to the volunteer program this year is the Endurance Volunteer position. Kokanee Crankworx is offering a limited opportunity to become an Endurance Volunteer and learn from the best in the event business. This position requires availability for more than five days, for six hour shifts, and volunteers must be more than 19 yeas old. The Endurance Volunteer position is a great way to build your resume while playing a larger role at Crankworx.

Other Volunteer Positions Include:

* Competitor Relations - Functions as a liaison between staff and competitors
* Sport Crew - On-hill position responsible for assisting with race venue set up, maintenance and tear down.
* Logistics Assistants - Responsible for ensuring volunteers for each day are checked in and out for their appropriate department and shift times
* Expo Crew - Ensures all aspects of the Village Expo run smoothly.
* Media / VIP Accreditation Crew - Acts as a knowledgeable representative for Kokanee Crankworx.
* Branding Crew - Responsible for maintaining the look of the festival.

To sign-up for a volunteer position or for more information on Kokanee Crankworx - Whistler’s premier freeride mountain bike festival - please visit www.crankworx.com or call 604-905-2034

During the Festival, hotel operators offer great deals on accommodation to encourage those visiting Whistler for Kokanee Crankworx to stay and enjoy Whistler at its best. Accommodation deals start at $99 per night depending on availability, and can be booked by calling 1-800-Whistler or by visiting www.whistler.com

Kokanee Crankworx is presented in partnership by Tourism Whistler, Whistler Blackcomb and the Resort Municipality of Whistler. Whistler has the world’s most diverse offering of mountain biking terrain, attracting all disciplines of mountain biking. From 150 miles of single-track trails and 200 km of lift-accessed downhill runs in the Whistler
Mountain Bike Park, to jump parks and the 20+ miles of paved Valley Trail, there’s something for every rider.

source: Ryan Proctor

‘Val Di Sole, Italy
June 21, 2008

Santa Cruz Syndicate’s Josh Bryceland brings home the gold at the UCI World Championship Junior Downhill race today at Val Di Sole. Steve Peat is the bridesmaid once again placing second in the elite men’s downhill to Gee Atherton’s first place run. Gee was the man to beat all week and this race was his to lose, and he pulled through with a run as stellar as his practice had been all week. Sam Hill was on a winning time, over 6 seconds faster at the second split time and gaining speed on the last section when he slid out and crashed in the second to last corner throwing away the win. His time was still good enough for a bronze medal. Greg Minnaar followed them all in for a fourth place finish.

Josh was happy to win saying, “I just had a smooth run and held it together and it came together perfectly. It was mint, I’m so happy.” Josh’s dad and mechanic, Iain Bryceland embraced Josh at the finish and says, “He was in a Slovenian hospital six weeks ago being told he needed surgery and that his season might be over. Up at the top of the hill Josh was just cool as a cucumber and he said to me, ‘Don’t worry dad, I’m in the zone.’”

An emotional Rob Roskopp said, “I’m happy for Josh that he got the monkey off his back from last year. To win with that big of a gap is total domination and he is deserving of it.” Rennie comments, “It was great to see Josh win. We all had faith in him and he did it in great style and it makes up for last year. I’m really happy for him.” Peat chimes in, “It’s about time!” Josh’s time of 3.23.55 would have placed him 10th in elite men.

In the elite men’s race Peaty had a good run but made a mistake. His feet blew off and it took awhile to get them back in. He was satisfied with his run and as he sat in the hot seat he was hoping for a little luck and had some when Sam wadded it up. But his luck ran out when Gee came across the line. He was happy for Gee but disappointed with his result. He has been the silver medalist four times in his career. He says, “I’m stoked Gee won but I wish it had been the other way around.” Bryceland comments, “I’m gutted for Steve. I wanted it so bad for him and after Sam fell I thought he had it. It’s not over, he’s got a few years left and there’s a chance for the old dog yet.”

Greg Minnaar was not pleased with his run. Over coming his injury from the week’s practice he started smooth and fast. He says, “I wouldn’t say I’m happy. I knew it would be a tough race and I did just what I didn’t want to do and that was losing rhythm. I battled to get back in to a rhythm and I knew I had lost time so I went faster to make time up but it was the wrong thing to do. I’ll be back next year and I’ll focus on the world cup’s now.”

Rennie did not have a good run. It started off fine and he felt good, but right after the first split he hit a tree, carried on and got arm pump, had a hard time holding on and just didn’t hit his lines and he finished 21st.

Practice recap:

Practice on Friday and Saturday was a mixed bag for the boys. Minnaar wadded it up in a gnarly section and strained his neck badly, and race morning
Brycleand bent his ISCG mount. The mechanics noticed this as Josh was napping before the final and they made the decision to swap everything off of his race
bike and build up his number two bike and they didn’t tell Josh as not to distract him from his race. Josh had a hunch, but didn’t ask, as he really didn’t want to know. After some therapy, Minnaar’s race morning practice went well and he hit all his lines. On a practice run through a rocky section Rennie was overheard calmly talking to his bike saying “come on little machine, you can do this.”

Roskopp said this about the track, “It’s a course no one will have a perfect run on. It’s a boxing match, that’s what that course is. The person who is fit and makes the least mistakes will win. They were doubling things up, like super cross and the consequences are so big in those sections. Josh found a few new lines on Friday and was pretty happy about it. It’s his race to lose.”

Some fun was had the night before the race with Bryceland and Rennie getting new race hair cuts. Rob Roskopp shaved off Rennie’s V-drive Mohawk to the
skin, leaving the just the sides and Iain Bryceland calls it the Ren-Hawk. Bryceland shaved the middle of his V-drive out and we call it the Miami Slice. Looks like the Miami Slice paid off.

DOWNHILL FINAL RESULTS:

1 Gee Atherton 3:12.12
2 Steve Peat (Santa Cruz Syndicate/SRAM) 3:14.74
3 Sam Hill 3:15.27
4 Greg Minnaar (Santa Cruz Syndicate/SRAM) 3:17.34
5 Fabien Barel 3:17.92
6 Justin Leov 3:17.96
7 Mickael Pascal 3:20.12
8 Julien Camellini 3:21.31
9 Fabien Pedemanaud 3:21.46
10 Ivan Olego Moreno 3:26.86

21 Nathan Rennie (Santa Cruz Syndicate/SRAM) 3:31.73

Junior Downhill Results:

1 Josh Bryceland (Santa Cruz Syndicate/SRAM) 3:23.55
2 Sam Dale 3;31.06
3 Remi Thirion 3:32.13
4 Aari Barrett 3:32/47
5 Brook Macdonald 3:32.77
6 Danny Hart 3:33/71
7 Yannick Colomb 3:35.23
8 Shaun Connor (Santa Cruz/SRAM) 3:36.24
9 Rhys Willemse 3:37.40
10 Boris Tetzlaff 3:39.58

source: Kathy Sessler